A last minute penalty by Jerome Wright sealed a 2-1 victory over promotion rivals Worksop at Cannon Park as FC United came from 1-0 down at half-time to take all three points, keeping them in the play-off places with six games to go.

The Reds fell behind to a superb strike by James Cotterill in the eighth minute and it took until 19 minutes to go for Mike Norton to get them back on level terms with a low diving header – his 28th goal of the season.

With the game seemingly petering out into a draw, United were awarded a last minute penalty when centre-back Terry Barwick handled the ball in the box. Wright calmly stepped up, sent keeper Jon Worsnop the wrong way and placed his spot-kick into the bottom left corner, sending the majority of the 892 strong-crowd into raptures.

It was a match that United probably just shaded but one which could have gone either way right up until the last minute. In the end, it was the Reds who grabbed another vital three points and extended their unbeaten two month run to 14 games.

The hosts walked onto the field at their temporary Retford home to Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger, resplendent in their bright orange shirts. Perhaps the melodramatic entrance and vivid kits left FC United dazzled because it was Worksop who started the game the most brightly of the two sides.

United had barely found their feet when Worksop took the lead. David Chadwick slipped allowing Martin McIntosh to head an out swinging corner from the right into the box. Scott McManus was underneath McIntosh’s knock back but his weak header fell to the feet of the unmarked Cotterill who took one touch before curling a superb shot into the top left corner from 25 yards.

It took United another four minutes to get their first shot on goal with right-back Kyle Jacobs playing a one-two with Chadwick before rifling a shot wide. Down at the other end, Jamie Jackson fired over the bar after showing Jacobs a clean pair of heels.

With 26 minutes gone, United got their first shot on target. Nicky Platt scuffed a shot from the edge of the box but despite the lack of power it was still a tricky one for Worsnop to deal as the ball bobbled on the uneven surface. The keeper parried Platt’s effort and he had to react quickly to make a second save, preventing captain Norton from shinning in the rebound.

Ten minutes later, Sam Ashton got himself booked for handling the ball just outside his area. Thankfully, United were able to scrap away the resulting free-kick from the right after it was initially flicked on dangerously.

Norton, playing as the lone striker, was beginning to look threatening for the Reds and Sam Duncan had to be alert to head his goal bound header off the line following a corner from the left by Carlos Roca.

United were coming into the game more as the half wore on but they were still fortunate to go into the interval just one goal down. Two minutes before the break, a corner from the right was flicked on and Ashton needed to be at his best to pull off a point blank save from McIntosh.

Into the second half and the Tigers seemed content to sit back and try to defend their lead whilst trying to hit United with the occasional counter attack. With just under an hour played, manager Karl Marginson decided it was time to make some changes with Matthew Wolfenden and Ben Deegan being introduced for Carlos Roca and Simon Carden.

Moments later, United won a corner on the left which Platt delivered dangerously into the box. Norton’s header flew just over the bar but United were in the ascendency and an equalising goal seemed inevitable. It also seemed likely that Norton would be on the score-sheet for the sixth time in four games and indeed he was.

With 20 minutes to go, United won a free-kick 30 yards out which Wright chipped towards the back post. With Deegan, Chadwick and substitute Karl Munroe all lurking, United had a sizeable physical presence in the box and it was Chaddy who managed to flick Wright’s ball back across goal, though with his right foot rather than his head. Norton came flying in with a diving header and United were level.

The Reds continued to press but the game was getting increasingly scrappy as the hosts tried to hold out for a draw. They were unable to though as Barwick, under pressure from Deegan, handled a throw-in from Wright. Left-back Chris Wood was sent off for dissent before United’s winger stepped up to seal the victory which keeps United in fifth place – level on points with fourth placed North Ferriby and with a game in hand.

Match Report

A last minute penalty by Jerome Wright sealed a 2-1 victory over promotion rivals Worksop at Cannon Park as FC United came from 1-0 down at half-time to take all three points, keeping them in the play-off places with six games to go.

The Reds fell behind to a superb strike by James Cotterill in the eighth minute and it took until 19 minutes to go for Mike Norton to get them back on level terms with a low diving header – his 28th goal of the season.

With the game seemingly petering out into a draw, United were awarded a last minute penalty when centre-back Terry Barwick handled the ball in the box. Wright calmly stepped up, sent keeper Jon Worsnop the wrong way and placed his spot-kick into the bottom left corner, sending the majority of the 892 strong-crowd into raptures.

It was a match that United probably just shaded but one which could have gone either way right up until the last minute. In the end, it was the Reds who grabbed another vital three points and extended their unbeaten two month run to 14 games.

The hosts walked onto the field at their temporary Retford home to Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger, resplendent in their bright orange shirts. Perhaps the melodramatic entrance and vivid kits left FC United dazzled because it was Worksop who started the game the most brightly of the two sides.

United had barely found their feet when Worksop took the lead. David Chadwick slipped allowing Martin McIntosh to head an out swinging corner from the right into the box. Scott McManus was underneath McIntosh’s knock back but his weak header fell to the feet of the unmarked Cotterill who took one touch before curling a superb shot into the top left corner from 25 yards.

It took United another four minutes to get their first shot on goal with right-back Kyle Jacobs playing a one-two with Chadwick before rifling a shot wide. Down at the other end, Jamie Jackson fired over the bar after showing Jacobs a clean pair of heels.

With 26 minutes gone, United got their first shot on target. Nicky Platt scuffed a shot from the edge of the box but despite the lack of power it was still a tricky one for Worsnop to deal as the ball bobbled on the uneven surface. The keeper parried Platt’s effort and he had to react quickly to make a second save, preventing captain Norton from shinning in the rebound.

Ten minutes later, Sam Ashton got himself booked for handling the ball just outside his area. Thankfully, United were able to scrap away the resulting free-kick from the right after it was initially flicked on dangerously.

Norton, playing as the lone striker, was beginning to look threatening for the Reds and Sam Duncan had to be alert to head his goal bound header off the line following a corner from the left by Carlos Roca.

United were coming into the game more as the half wore on but they were still fortunate to go into the interval just one goal down. Two minutes before the break, a corner from the right was flicked on and Ashton needed to be at his best to pull off a point blank save from McIntosh.

Into the second half and the Tigers seemed content to sit back and try to defend their lead whilst trying to hit United with the occasional counter attack. With just under an hour played, manager Karl Marginson decided it was time to make some changes with Matthew Wolfenden and Ben Deegan being introduced for Carlos Roca and Simon Carden.

Moments later, United won a corner on the left which Platt delivered dangerously into the box. Norton’s header flew just over the bar but United were in the ascendency and an equalising goal seemed inevitable. It also seemed likely that Norton would be on the score-sheet for the sixth time in four games and indeed he was.

With 20 minutes to go, United won a free-kick 30 yards out which Wright chipped towards the back post. With Deegan, Chadwick and substitute Karl Munroe all lurking, United had a sizeable physical presence in the box and it was Chaddy who managed to flick Wright’s ball back across goal, though with his right foot rather than his head. Norton came flying in with a diving header and United were level.

The Reds continued to press but the game was getting increasingly scrappy as the hosts tried to hold out for a draw. They were unable to though as Barwick, under pressure from Deegan, handled a throw-in from Wright. Left-back Chris Wood was sent off for dissent before United’s winger stepped up to seal the victory which keeps United in fifth place – level on points with fourth placed North Ferriby and with a game in hand.